Here's what's happening in the week ahead:
Two-Start PitchersMust Start
Cliff Lee - CHW (John Danks), @KC (Zack Greinke)
Matt Garza - NYY (Mike Mussina), @TOR (David Purcey)
Mike Mussina - @TB (Matt Garza), @SEA (Carlos Silva)
Zack Greinke - OAK (Gio Gonzalez), CLE (Cliff Lee)
John Danks - @CLE (Cliff Lee), LAA (Joe Saunders)
Joe Saunders - @DET (Chris Lambert), @CHW (John Danks)
Justin Verlander - NYY (Sidney Ponson), @MIN (Scott Baker)
Other Options
Glen Perkins - @TOR (David Purcey), DET (Chris Lambert)
David Purcey - MIN (Glen Perkins), TB (Matt Garza)
Paul Byrd - BAL (Garrett Olson), @TEX (Kevin Millwood)
Sidney Ponson - @DET (Justin Verlander), @SEA (Felix Hernandez)
If You Must
Chris Lambert - LAA (Joe Saunders), @MIN (Glen Perkins)
Carlos Silva - @TEX (Matt Harrison), NYY (Mike Mussina)
Matt Harrison - SEA (Carlos Silva), BOS (TBA)
Sports
Must Start
Johan Santana - @MIL (Ben Sheets), PHI (Kyle Kendrick)
Ben Sheets - NYM (Johan Santana), SD (Chris Young)
Randy Johnson - STL (Joel Pineiro), @LAD (Greg Maddux)
Roy Oswalt - @CHC (Jason Marquis), @COL (Jorge De La Rosa)
Josh Johnson - ATL (Mike Hampton), @STL (Adam Wainwright)
Other Options
Greg Maddux - SD (Chris Young), ARI (Randy Johnson)
Manny Parra - NYM (Jonathon Niese), SD (Chad Reineke)
Kyle Kendrick - @WAS (Tim Redding), @NYM (Johan Santana)
Ian Snell - @CIN (Josh Fogg), @SF (Matt Palmer)
John Lannan - PHI (Cole Hamels), @ATL (Charlie Morton)
Jason Marquis - HOU (Roy Oswalt), @CIN (Josh Fogg)
Chris Young - @LAD (Greg Maddux), @MIL (Ben Sheets)
Mike Hampton - @FLA (Josh Johnson), WAS (Tim Redding)
Adam Wainwright - @ARI (Yusmeiro Petit), FLA (Josh Johnson)
Tim Redding - PHI (Kyle Kendrick), @ATL (Mike Hampton)
If You Must
Charlie Morton - @FLA (Anibal Sanchez), WAS (John Lannan)
Jorge De La Rosa - SF (Matt Palmer), HOU (Roy Oswalt)
Chad Reineke - @LAD (Clayton Kershaw), @MIL (Manny Parra)
Matt Palmer - @COL (Jorge De La Rosa), PIT (Ian Snell)
The following pitchers are available in more than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, and have a match-up that makes them worth using this week:
American League
Thursday:Kevin Slowey @ TOR - Toronto has a very mediocre offense, and Slowey has posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over the past month. He should have a fine day.
Saturday:Gil Meche vs. CLE - Meche faced the Indians last week, and allowed just one earned run in seven innings. He's a very borderline play - the Indians have hit him hard a couple times this season - but it's a slow week in the AL, so I figured I'd list him.
National League
Wednesday:Dave Bush vs. NYM - Bush has a 3.21 ERA at home, and so while this isn't the best match-up, he certainly bears consideration.
Wednesday:Hiroki Kuroda vs. SD - Tender Hiroki gets no respect. He has a 3.87 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP this season, and will now face San Diego's meager offense. They've hit him hard this season, but he should be a safe bet.
Tuesday:Yusmeiro Petit vs. STL - Petit is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP for Arizona. He should be owned in most leagues, and certainly can be used against the Cardinals.
Total GamesAmerican League
7: DET, NYY
6: BAL, BOS, CHW, CLE, KC, LAA, MIN, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
National League
7: ATL, MIL, SD, WAS
6: ARI, CHC, CIN, COL, FLA, HOU, LAD, NYM, PHI, PIT, SF, STL
American League
Baltimore - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Boston - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Detroit - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 1 vs. Righties, 5 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Angels - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Texas - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Notes:
Baltimore faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For:Brian Roberts (.333 vs. LHP),
Bad For:Alex Cintron (.219), Aubrey Huff (.278), Luke Scott (.230))
Chicago faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For:Toby Hall (.422 vs. LHP), Alexei Ramirez (.348), Juan Uribe (.302)
Bad For:Joe Crede (.114), Jermaine Dye (.263), Ken Griffey Jr. (.200)
Kansas City faces lefties in five of its six games this week.
Good For:Mike Aviles (.394 vs. LHP), Billy Butler (.336)
Bad For:David DeJesus (.268)
Los Angeles faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For:Erick Aybar (.299 vs. LHP),
Bad For:Howie Kendrick (.279), Vladimir Guerrero (.256)
National League:
Arizona - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Colorado - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Houston - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 3 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties, 2 Undecided
New York Mets - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Washington - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Notes:
Cincinnati faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For:Edwin Encarnacion (.312 vs. LHP), Jeff Keppinger (.360), Brandon Phillips (.301)
Bad For:Jay Bruce (.196)
St. Louis faces lefties in three of its six games this week.
Good For:Cesar Izturis (.322), Felipe Lopez (.262), Albert Pujols (.405)
Bad For:Rick Ankiel (.226), Troy Glaus (.234), Ryan Ludwick (.270), Skip Schumaker (.171)
For the latest on injuries, check out Rotoworld's handy Injury Page. Here is the most vital in injury news:
Erick Aybar - SS - Hamstring - Out most of week
Howie Kendrick - 2B - Hamstring - Return mid-Sept.
Frank Thomas - DH - Quad - Out indefinitely
Justin Duchscherer - SP - Hip - Out Indefinitely
Sean Gallagher - SP - Shoulder - Return Sept. 5
Casey Kotchman - 1B - Bereavement - Day-to-day
Carlos Zambrano - SP - Shoulder - Day-to-day
Travis Hafner - DH - Shoulder - Return this week?
Billy Wagner - RP - Arm - Return mid-September
Melvin Mora - 3B - Hamstring - Out for most of week
George Sherrill - RP - Shoulder - Return September
Adam Jones - OF - Foot - Return by end of week?
Chris Young - SP - Return Monday
Josh Hamilton - OF - Mouth - day-to-day
Ian Kinsler - 2B - Groin - Return September 9?
Troy Percival - RP - Knee - Return September
Evan Longoria - 3B - Wrist - Return September
Carl Crawford - OF - Hand - Out indefinitely
Josh Beckett - SP - Elbow - Return September
J.D. Drew - OF - Back - Return mid-September
Mike Lowell - 3B - Ribs - Out indefinitely
Johnny Cueto - SP - Elbow - day-to-day
Yorvit Torrealba - C - Knee - Out indefinitely
Alex Gordon - 3B - Quad - Out indefinitely
Carlos Guillen - 3B - Back - Day-to-day
Joba Chamberlain - SP - Shoulder - Return September
For this week's top waiver adds, read my opinion in this week's Waiver Wired.
AL
1. Frank Francisco
2. Dana Eveland
3. Adam Jones
4. Nelson Cruz
5. David Purcey
NL
1. Josh Johnson
2. Hiroki Kuroda
3. Elijah Dukes
4. Luis Ayala
5. Paul Maholm
